Shape Up Your Colorwork With These Geometric Knitting Patterns

By Ashley Little

Geometry wasn't my favorite subject in high school, but I can appreciate carefully designed shapes -- especially when they're in knitting patterns
.

These geometric knitting patterns use many different kinds of colorwork, from intarsia
to more intense stranded colorwork
. If you're a beginner, stick to the two-color patterns until you feel comfortable. Then you can go crazy with three or more colors!

Whether you want to show off your favorite shapes in the form of accessories or just want to add some geometry to your home decor, put some of these geometric knitting patterns on your wishlist!

Geometric owl pillow

Pillow or decorative toy? It's up to you! This geometric owl comes in two sizes: one for a small toy and the other for a larger pillow. The pattern comes with 38 pages of instructions and photos to make sure your owl turns out exactly like the one here -- great for beginners who are taking that brave step to working with more than one color yarn
.

Pauka cowl

Dust off those colorwork knitting
skills! This cowl is double knitted for ultimate warmth. If the double knitting technique is new to you and your knitting repertoire, sign up for Adventures in Double-Knitting with Alasdair Post-Quinn for extra help in achieving the super warm, double knitted fabric.

Geometric fingerless gloves

Put geometry to work with these fingerless gloves that can be knit up in any color palette you'd like. You can even knit it in a palette of neutrals so that it matches every coat you own. I'm seriously digging the bold pink tucked in the middle of this pair.

Honors geometry cowl

Talk about a cozy cowl. Like the Pauka Cowl above, this geometric cowl is double knitted for an accessory that's twice as warm as your usual cowl. Adventures in Double-Knitting with Alasdair Post-Quinn can help you out with this one, too.

I also like that this cowl can be wrapped around your neck like a traditional cowl or wrapped around your body like it is here so that it's more like a warm shawl.

Alkira hat

I love any type of design that incorporates arrows. This geometric hat has circles to go along with it, too. Scrap yarns from your stash are great choices for the shapes. Knit this one up in lighter colors, as seen here, to match nearly any outerwear or knit it up in bold colors if you're not a fan of coordinating. There's even an Alkira Cowl and Headband pattern
to match!

Felted bag

Felting your geometric knit makes the shapes stand out even more -- and gives them a fuzzy-cute outline. You can even embellish your shapes with buttons and embroidery! One skein in each color of yarn
is all you need to knit the entire bag. Plan your color palette and start knitting!

Have you ever knitted a geometric shape into your knitting? What's your favorite shape to knit?

Brioche knitting is unlike any other technique in the knitting world, so you have to go into it with the right tools — and that includes yarn. Because the secret to a good brioche project is a yarn that complements those beautiful, squishy stitches. So before you pick up your needles and start, look for these key characteristics in your yarn.

With its own set of special stitches, unique charts and working method (each row is worked twice), brioche is the rebel of the knitting world. So for a first-timer, the technique may seem tricky — after all, you have to throw out some of your typical knitting know-how to create the gorgeous texture. But if you keep these beginner-friendly tips in mind, your first attempt at brioche knitting will feel like a breeze.

If you've seen a brioche knit, you won't forget it. The technique uses its own special set of stitches to create a to-die-for texture that's unlike any other. So if you're looking to learn more about brioche knitting — and need more reasons to give it a try — here are five to get you started.

From seamless hats to fingerless gloves, knitting in the round opens you up to a world full of double-pointed and circular needles. But the technique can get tricky, especially if you're a beginner. Here are a few tips for avoiding common in-the-round frustrations so you don't have to rip out your project.

There's more to left-handed knitting than moving stitches from your right needle to the left. For lefties, everything's just a little different — even how you wrap the yarn around your needles. But by mastering these common stitches, you'll be able to cast on and knit even the most complex projects without stumbling (and get a fabric that looks no different from right-handed knits).

Gifting for men, whether it's Father's Day, Christmas or a birthday, can sometimes feel tricky. But if you're a knitter, it's just another opportunity to pull out your needles and yarn. There are so many knits that make great gifts for men — here are a few worth adding to your to-make list.

When it's time to bust that yarn stash, there's nothing better than stitching something cute (and functional!) for your pet. Whether you want to knit your dog a fashionable sweater or whip up a cozy cat bed, they'll love these knits as much as you love making 'em.

There's an easy way to add some sparkle and shine to any knit project: just add beads. It's totally fun, and these beaded knitting patterns offer plenty of opportunity to play with a little bling-bling while you're making.

After I graduated from Cornell University’s apparel design program, where I studied textile design with an emphasis on weaving, I was lucky enough to get a job with a small garment manufacturer in Ithaca, New York. It was there that I met my husband, and later, gave birth to my daughter. Before I knew it, life got really hectic and, as I'm sure many parents can relate, I soon found it difficult to dedicate time to being at my loom.

To turn a piece of knitting into a gorgeous work of art, all you need are beads. You can add beading to any project, whether it's a simple garter stitch scarf or a more intricate lace shawl. So no matter what your skill level, use these tips to dress up your stitches with sparkle.

With the delicate placement of yarn overs and decreases, there's nothing more beautiful than knit lace. And the number of lace stitches you can knit is only limited by your imagination — and maybe the amount of time you have. Experiment with the stitches below and soon you can start creating your own gorgeous lace project.

Many knitters know the value of connecting with the yarn-thusiast community. But when your knitwear soulmates are spread far and wide, it may not always be possible to form a knitting circle in person. Which is why there's a genius way to bridge the gap: virtual knitting clubs.

Stranded knitting is a style of colorwork that traditionally carries two or more yarns along the back of your knitting. There are a ton of ways to incorporate it into your work — Fair Isle is one most people know best — and it helps bring out a variety of detail and color in a single project. See for yourself in the patterns below, then download and start knitting!

You've been warned: Fair Isle knitting — a type of stranded knitting that traditionally uses no more than two colors per row — is straight-up addictive. After all, who could resist all that beautiful detail?! Dig into the technique (and bring on the color) with the below patterns — you can get 'em all totally free!

When you first begin knitting, reading patterns and charts may be the most challenging aspect. After all, to a novice "K5 yo, k2tog, ssk, knit to end" looks like utter gibberish. But don't stress — keep this guide close and you'll be able to decode even the trickiest line.

Reach way back to your middle school memories and you might remember learning about pi in math class. Though you may not have become a mathematician, you still use a lot of math when you knit — especially if you're stitching a pi shawl.

Gift-giving for men can be tricky, whether it's Father's Day, their birthday or Valentine's Day. But knitting them a hat is always a solid choice. Just pay attention to their style preference — some guys are more adventurous, while others prefer a more classic look. Whatever their deal, you're sure to find a pattern worth stitching below. Now grab those circular needles and get going!

Real talk: sometimes crafting can use a lot of materials (that aren't exactly cheap). You can save your bank account some strife and show Mother Earth a lot of love by upcycling what you already have — here's how.